"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2Corinthians 4:16-18
Luke 8:18
“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” The longer a person walks with Jesus Christ the more dangerous it becomes. The journey grows more treacherous by the year, more hazardous by the month and week, until ultimately the road becomes increasingly dodgy by the hour. The source of this peril is integral to the danger itself. To live for Jesus Christ is to be constantly learning and growing. Each day the eternal God sheds new light on our pathway. Some days the new truth is profound and obvious; other days the new truth is subtle, the transformation is a small shift. To know Him is to listen and grow; the danger lies in that simple truth. The fly in the ointment is pride. I’m seeking to master and mature in the things of Christ, but as soon as I claim mastery I forfeit growth. Imagine a teacher approaching you with the idea of teaching you to read. The teacher is excited, armed with the first grade “Dick and Jane” primer. You would be completely immune to any such efforts due to one fact – “I already know how to read!” Pride “I already know…” is the enemy of all spiritual growth. Enlargement in Christ is the result of ravenous spiritual hunger. When I acknowledge my spiritual immaturity I am at an amazing place to learn and experience new things in Christ. My brokenness, my lack of understanding, my carnality, is the starting place of genuine spiritual growth. Pride tempts me to protect a religious image of wholeness, understanding and holiness. “I already know…” is a rejection of my need for God; if I am whole, if I understand, if I am holy, then I no longer need God. Consider the words of Jesus to the Church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:17, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Jesus is revealing the most spiritually dangerous place in the universe. When I am convinced I am prospering and secure and “do not need a thing” I am in deplorable spiritual condition. This is the dangerous trail followers of Jesus take. We can get our theology all sewed up. We can read the Bible without seeing a fresh word. We can fail to hear the pastor preach because we know it already. We can become absolutely secure in our grasp of spiritual things. We can become so confident we are unable to seek or hear new truth. Our religious icons can become so solid, cemented in place, stopping us from seeing our true spiritual condition and need. Life is progressive; there are very few areas which remain static. The good news, we do not have to suffer spiritual atrophy. Pride and self-righteousness is not our chosen pathway. We can KEEP LISTENING and KEEP GROWING! Truths already learned can become fresh with eternal perspective. We will not finish learning the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, if we are listening and willing to grow. The promise of Jesus Christ is for me and you, “Whoever has will be given more.” KEEP LISTENING and KEEP GROWING!
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AuthorTim Young is a follower of Jesus Christ. He is married to Sue and is the father of 4 children and 11 grandchildren. Beyond his faith and family Tim is passionate about hiking, backpacking and fitness. He lives in Southwest Missouri in the Ozarks. Archives
January 2020
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